The 30 Must-Play PC Games of The Decade

You know that stereotype of the total loser from high school – busted glasses, craggy acne canyon of a face, every spoken word followed by a refreshing mist of saliva – who goes on to become rich and successful beyond your wildest dreams? Well, that's the gaming industry's past ten years in a nutshell. No longer is gaming that shameful hobby you mumble in between “hanging out” and “...uh, other stuff.” Now, it's just something everyone does. With the exception of a few stragglers and the occasional re-emergence of Jack Thompson, gaming has finally arrived.

In that spirit, we thought it'd be fitting to spotlight some of the games that helped put our favorite past-time on top of the world. So, without further ado, we present the 30 best PC games of the past decade!

2001

Max Payne

Oftentimes, the best games aren't the most polished or the most innovative. Rather, they're the ones that take established formulas, sprinkle in a couple new “I can't believe no one ever thought of this before”-type ideas, and mash the “blend” button until both old and new are inseparable. Max Payne's pioneering usage of scripted levels and cinematic storytelling techniques not only made it more than just another third-person shooter, but helped pave the way for today's tightly scripted shooter juggernauts. Along with a Big Gulp-sized dose of slow-mo, those things ensured that Max Payne was both an innovator and a damn fun game in its own right.

Black & White

Bless Black & White's heart, it tried. It reached for the sun, only to come plummeting back down to earth. The end result was a god game not quite worthy of the divine praise it initially received. However, in spite of some repetition and less-than-stellar questing, Black & White was still chock full of great ideas, from an almost-entirely gesture-based interface to what was, at the time, perhaps the most comprehensive morality system ever seen. Also, the game's cow people were only slightly terrifying, which is a pretty big accomplishment when you're dealing with cow people.

Civilization III

Times change. Civilizations rise and fall. The game called “Civilization,” however, remains a constant. Keeping with this trend, Civilization III made small tweaks to an already fantastic formula, adding standouts like city zones, culture victories, and an in-depth transportation system.

2002

Battlefield 1942

Games before Battlefield turned the clock back to WWII. Games before Battlefield did their fair share of multiplayer shooting. Battlefield, however, made those games look like 12-year-old birthday party paintball matches. With vehicles of all shapes and sizes, 64-player matches, and positively gigantic maps, the game lobbed a grenade at our previous conceptions of what war games could be and walked away from the explosion in slow motion. On top of that, it lacked just enough realism to still remain fun as all get-out, which is nice since it turns out that we take to actual plane flight like a duck to piranha-infested waters.

Grand Theft Auto III

Sirens blaring. People screaming, The sound of your own heart pounding through your chest. Everyone remembers their first GTA rampage not only for all the excitement, but because GTA III allowed you to do it. You were the bad guy in a city where nothing was off-limits. The missions weren't bad either, but you're not even listening to us anymore because you're remembering the time when you outran the military going backward in a beat-up ice cream truck.

Warcraft III

With a single-player campaign that blurred the line between RTS and RPG, and Blizzard's trademark dedication to multiplayer excellence, Warcraft III was a fantastic game in its own right. However, it also served as the extremely fertile soil that nurtured a number of long-lasting mods, including the maniacally addictive Defense of the Ancients, which has been used as the basis for multiple full games including Demigod, League of Legends, and Valve's upcoming DoTA.

My point wasn't about which games were the "must play" games as much as depending on who you ask there could be 100, hell 1,000 "must play" games in the last decade.

To me a "must play" game is the one that hooks you in. For example I'm not saying ME1 is better then ME2. I'm saying if any one asked me I'd say ME1 is a "must play". That ME2 is a great sequel and that if you enjoyed ME1, then you have to play ME2. There's elements of ME2, and the last ME that is supposed to be coming, that will/might suffer for a player if they never played ME1. To be honest I'd say ME 1/2/3 will be considered a "must play" series when we look back on it. But I'd still say that it's best to start the story at the beginning if you want the whole experience. That in my books makes ME1 a "must play".

As for BF2, yeah it had/has it's problem, funny how it's still an extremely popular game though. Ton's of top notch mods, quite a number still playing it. My reasoning was more why BF 1942 and BF2? I don't see them as both "must play" games, one has to be the better of the two. It's one thing to say you have to play a game when it first comes out, but this list is about what games that are "must play" in retrospect. And with that in mind I'd say BF2 wins out over BF 1942.

As I stated, to me a "must play" game is a game that your missing out if you don't give it a try, it'll either hook you or make you say meh. A game that will have you searching for ones like it, and comparing any you find to this "must play" game. A game that opens up a whole new world of gaming pleasure.

If you look back say to the 90's, again there are many reasons to single out games of that era, but how many would you say are "must play", even now? The list could of been "the best of" or "or games that made me go Whoa" and I might of disagreed with some of the selection, gave my own and moved on.

But "must play" means something different to me. If you have a friend that never played video games, what list of games would you give them to start out? Or a friend that never played a RTS, again what games? Are they the same games you remember fondly and find yourself playing them once in awhile. Those in my opinion are "must play" games. It was because the "must play" list in my opinion was both limited in it's scope, and a bit redundant. It seemed that certain genres were under represented, while others over, and thats why I posted what I did.

1st of all Battlefield 1942 is what started the Battlefield series. If your looking at the fact that 1942 was World War type game don't cause if you wanted modern you could use the Desert Combat mod which is what later because Battlefield 2 but a lamer version. You still haven't explained why you think BF2 is better. Only thing you mentioned was people still play it well it was made at a much later time then 1942 but that in no way should determine that BF2 is better.

Hey Nathan, can you cover this issue? Microsoft has done it again! Xbox Live Kinect update from November 1, 2010 caused a large number of Xbox 360 to stop reading discs! A lot of people aren't able to play their games anymore over the holidays! Anyone know if there is any fix for this yet???

There is a long topic on this problem at the support forums...http://forums.xbox.com/34833009/ShowPost.aspx

I kinda have to disagree on adding Battlefield 2 to the list of 30 best pc games of the past decade. Why you ask? Cause for the most part and some still think so even today it's still broken. The most notable issue with BF2 was the hit box and how long did the BF community wait? A long time. I would have rather played BF1942 Desert Combat mod over and over then play the broken Battlefield 2. Hackers were another issue Battlefield 2 had really bad but that's due to Punkbuster and there worthless effort. Battlefield 2's in game chat for me was the worst ever and even today in Battlefield Bad Company 2 it still sucks. They should take a lesson from Valve. At least you guys didn't pick Battlefield 2142 cause that was a true joke like Battlefield Hero's.

First of all I think everyone's overreacting about this, but the reason I'm replying to this is because of your ignorant comment about mass effect 2. Have you even played mass effect 2? I'm 90% sure you haven't because if you did you'd know that it's a great story and experience in it's own right. The combat is fluid, the abilities are neat, the voice acting is phenominal, the graphics are fantastic (well optimized too), the hook factor is definitely there, exploring is neat, and the multiple endings are a definite plus. I have never felt so cinematic while playing a game as much as I did while playing ME2. My friend hadn't played ME1, I told him it didn't matter and that he would enjoy it, and WITHOUT PLAYING ME1 (he didn't want to play an 'inferior version) he played ME2 and it is one of his top best games for PC ever. This friend isn't just "some random gamer either", he's very critical, analytical, intelligent, skeptical, and detailed when it comes to identifying what's strong or weak in a game. He beat the game 3 times, I've beaten it twice, I cannot recommend the game highly enough, so shove off.

The only games on this list that are not overrated jokes are Max Payne, Splinter Cell, before Double Agent of course, Bioshock, and Dragon Age...

For the love of all that is PC, how could Portal and Mass effect make the list? You guys really need to rename the mag to "Sell-Out PC - we have no free will" and get it over with already. I don't even need to go into details on how a vast majority of these games are not even worthy of the bargain bin, start rating based on experience and not on what lines your pockets the most.

I can safely say the only reason I subscribe anymore and view the website is for factual news and objective benchmarks, because I know anything subjective or involves an employee's opinion is both ignorant and biased.

Where is Deus Ex?! That is on of my all time favorites. And why Fallout NV? Fallout 3 is already there. I've never even heard of Machinerium. Civilazation didn't have to make the list twice, neither did battlefield. 1942 had the crappiest AI I've ever seen. Far Cry should have been on the list also.

This list as shown at least for me doesn't really make sense as a "must play" list.

Think about it for a moment. A "must play" game is the one when all the stars align, the game is firing on all cylinders, is innovative with out sacrificing game play, and just plain more fun then you can ever have (with your pants on).

A game that showcases the best of a genre, and is impossible to put down. That you find your self looking up from your game screen after hours of game play that feel like mere minutes. A game where you find yourself going over strategy in your head when you have a spare moment at work or what have you. Then you can't wait to get home and try it out. When you finally finish, you both elated and sad because it's over. So you start looking for community mods to extend the experience. You even try out any earlier versions if you can, just to see if it gives you the same rush.

Then you spend unreasonable amounts of time posting on forums about "when will the next version be out?". Of course the next version doesn't count as a "must play" because even if it's as good or better then the original, it's not the one that had the mad grip on you. As for ones that lead up to it, again they weren't the "one". And lastly a game that even with "dated" graphics, game play, and wow factor, you still find your self picking it up once in awhile because it's just that much fun.

If anyone asks about a series which game would you recommend first? If it's the one that for the most part fits the above criteria that's your "must play" game.

For example which one of these, BF 1942, BF 2, or BF 2142 would be your first recommendation for someone new to the series? Anyone who didn't vote for BF 2 go back and play all three please. BF 2 is a great game and is the gold standard for co-op military games IMHO.

So yes, Mass Effect is a "must play". You'll either love it or go meh. But Mass Effect 2? I f you loved ME 1 you'll of course play ME 2, if you didn't you won't plain and simple. So ME 2 is not a "must play" in my books.

On the other hand no mention of say, UT 2004, Neverwinter's Nights, Medieval 2, or Rise of Legends? I could mention many more I would consider "must play". Some have been mentioned by others, and others I'm sure will get a mention in posts to come. Plus some of mine would be a little too out of the main stream to be a true "must play". For example Sid Meier's Railroads would make my list way before Pirates would. But the truth is either title is only a "must play" for a select group of people that enjoy that sort of game. So I'd recommend them only if some one asked. On the other hand Borderlands was a blast and I recommend it as a "must play" to anyone because it has such a broad appeal.

Okay, I guess my 2 cents ended up being more like a buck and a half. Sorry about that.

P.S. Come to think of it, I guess my criteria can apply to movies, music, just about any subjective art forms where personal taste is involved.

With that said, there no reason to place Mass Effect, Fallout, and Civilizations on the list twice, thats space that should of gone to something else. Secondly, Maxpc should of done "the best selling games of the decade" that would of bin easier, there a few games on this list I wouldn't exactly call must play. and many that are missing (Unreal Tournament).

I don't know if "Must Play" is the correct term for this list. Perhaps "That Were Must Play" is more fitting. Surely there is no reason for two versions of Civ, not to mention CoD, and 2 Battlefield games on a list of games that are still Must Play. Should Mass Effect 2 make the list with Mass Effect 1? If so, then it becomes difficult to justify not having Left For Dead 2. And when it comes to unique gameplay, it's hard not to give a nod to the Overlord series or, perhaps, the Penny Arcade games. At least they were inventive AND fun (sorry, Black & White).

Too many gripes. In the end, this list should be titled as what it really is: Butters' Favorite 30 PC Games of the Decade

Any true fan of the TES series will tell you Morrowind was the end-all be-all of adventure / fantasy games when it was released in 2002. It was also released as a GOTY with both expansions, Bloodmoon and Tribunal, which were amazing in their own right, along with the TES editor (now updated for Oblivion) which allowed players to create their own insane content for the game.

As an honest fan of the series, I have to say I felt more immersed in Morrowind than Oblivion, the storyline was just better and the actors although their AI wasn't as good had better dialogue. The ability to become a vampire and later a werewolf in the Bloodmoon expansion was awesome.

Oblivion was revolutionary in it's own right and paved part of the way for Fallout 3 (which uses a lot of borrowed engine components from Oblivion) but Morrowind is what truly set Bethesda on a pedestal as far as game developers go. If it wasn't for Morrowind, Oblivion wouldn't have existed and Fallout 3 would exist as another RTS-type adventure (satisfying to some die-hards but where would VATS be?).

If we are going by the decade I feel Morrowind more than deserves a spot on this list since it was released in 2002 and imo is one of the best PC games of all time.

Needless to say these lists are hugely subjective, and to each his own. But I really think Morrowind is more of a niche game, and I can see why it would be left off a list like this. Its just too boring. I mean... painfully, stick forks in eyes to stay awake, I better put my finger in the lightsocket or I'm gonna pass out, [i]boring[/i]. I find Oblivion almost equally unplayable but Morrowind... shudder.

No doubt that Morrowind paved the way for other greats. But it was an evolutionary step in sort of a gaming growth process thats spanned the last 10 years, not a must-play for everyone (which is sorta how I think of a list like this).

Usually I hate these "best of" type lists, but think this is damn near spot on. I'm sure you'll get a few dissenters, though. Also I'd toss in "Plants vs. Zombies" into the mix. That's one hella fun game that entertains for any age group.